right-hand

adjective \ ˈrīt-ˌhand \

|Updated on: 10 Jun 2018

Definition of right-hand

1 : situated on the right

2 : right-handed

3 : chiefly relied on

his right-hand man

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First Known Use of right-hand

1567

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

right hand

noun

Definition of right hand

1 a : the hand on a person's right side

b : an indispensable person

2 a : the right side

b : a place of honor

Recent Examples of right hand from the Web

John William Mackay stands as a simple miner with the bottoms of his trousers tucked into a pair of mucker’s boots, holding a chunk of ore in his right hand and resting his left on the handle of a pickaxe.

— gregory crouch, Smithsonian, "The Mining Millionaire Americans Couldn’t Help But Love," 6 June 2018
Lateral Lunge Press Improves: Quads and glutes for conquering steep hills and elevations Hold a free weight in your right hand and take a large step to the left.

— Philly.com, "4 essential strength training moves for cyclists," 5 June 2018
Cano landed on the disabled list Monday after breaking a bone in his right hand after getting hit by a pitch during Sunday's game in Detroit.

— tim booth, courant.com, "Robinson Cano Suspended 80 Games For Drug Violation," 15 May 2018
Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano broke a bone in his right hand after being hit by a pitch during Sunday's game.

— tim booth, Houston Chronicle, "Seattle Mariners' Cano suspended 80 games for drug violation," 15 May 2018
Time Cano suffered a fractured fifth metacarpal in his right hand when he was hit by a pitch in a game against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.

— richard morin, azcentral, "Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte on Robinson Cano suspension: 'I couldn't believe it'," 15 May 2018
Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano broke a bone in his right hand after being hit by a pitch during Sunday's game.

— scooby axson, SI.com, "Mariners' Robinson Cano Breaks Hand After Being Hit By Pitch," 13 May 2018
Robinson Cano left the game in the third inning with a fracture in his right hand, and the Mariners went on to lose 5-4 to the Detroit Tigers on Sunday when Jose Iglesias hit an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.

— noah trister, chicagotribune.com, "Mariners' Robinson Cano fractures right hand after getting hit by pitch," 13 May 2018
An officer saw Soderberg with a blue steel handgun in his right hand and fired two to three rounds.

— nicole santa cruz, latimes.com, "Panel finds 12 LAPD officers violated department policy in 2017 shooting from helicopter," 9 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'right hand.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.